Buy It Now

Title: Essence of Love (HarperSanFrancisco, 1993) 

Author: Maggie Tisserand

Book Details: 186 pages, including glossary, bibliography, recommended reading and index. Soft cover.

Table of Contents:

1. Aromatherapy For Life
2. An Erotic History
3. Lasting Impressions
4. Massage With Essential Oils
5. Beauty Care
6. Achieving Sexual Fulfillment
7. Aroma and Sexual Response
8. Essential Recipes

Book Excerpt:

"A quiet bath, lit by a gently flickering candles, is a sanctuary from the troubles of the world -- a place to relax, to meditate, to let go of troubling thought and allow them to drift away as fragrant essences evaporate from the water's surface. Transform the perfunctory habit of cleansing into a ritual of pleasure by adding Aphrodite's beloved myrtle or Venus's rose fragrance and just allowing the aromas to envelop your body and your mind -- using the time to think beautiful, sensual thoughts. Even if you can't rationalize why you are loved by your lover -- be glad that you are - and if you don't love yourself, because of lack of confidence, fears, negative programming -- now is the right moment to start thinking thoughts that will enrich you." (From "Lasting Impressions", page 51.)

Book Review & Recipe Test:

Since I have made so many different kinds of skin care and bath and body products using essential oils, I was excited to read a book that addressed use of the oils from a purely romantic perspective. Maggie Tisserand's treatment of the subject is detailed and sensitive. There's something in this book for the most experienced to the most timid lover -- and love of ones self is included as you can see from the excerpt above. This inclusion is a delightful departure from other books which tend to direct use of essential oils for romantic purposes outwardly from the oil user to another person. How wonderful to be reminded that we can use the oils to love ourselves.

Last week, as I contemplated whether I would actually purchase token Valentine's Day gifts for family members, I came across Tisserand's suggestion for scenting the box in which a gift is wrapped. Again excited to be able to use the oils in non body care ways for a change, I decided to try her recipe for scenting a gift box. Alas, I did not actually get a chance to do it, but it's on my list of things to remember to incorporate for future holidays and other occasions.

To do this, a day before you will give the gift, simply place a saucer in the bottom of the gift box and place a tissue sprinkled with a few drops of jasmine, rose and/or patchouli oil. Close the lid on the saucer and the scented tissue and leave overnight. After you remove the saucer the next day, you'll notice that the box has absorbed the fragrance. What better way to wrap a romantic gift like lingerie or other personal items?!!

I highly recommend this book as a refreshing departure from the usual. The beauty care chapter is filled basic helpful skin care information, plus easy recipes to care for different skin types, hair, skin and body. With small bottles of just 4 or 5 essential oils and an ounce or so of floral water (hydrosol), you'll be able to customize your own romantic care products in a flash.